Nurses plan to boycott Nurses Week celebration

Nurses at Nyack Hospital in New York plan to boycott a luncheon scheduled in their honor. According to the New York Nurses Association, nurses plan to skip the Nurses Week celebration because Nyack Hospital management has yet to negotiate a fair nursing contract.

The nurses’ most recent contract expired December 31, 2009. Since then, hospital management has held firm to its position, insisting that nurses accept a higher-cost health plan before agreeing to discuss salary and patient care issues. In March, Nyack nurses held an informational picket to draw attention to their concerns. The New York Nurses Association even released a video, asking former patients to call hospital management on behalf of nurses.

Now, the nurses plan to skip the Nurses Week luncheon. “Nyack management likes to tell the public about how it respects its nurses. But they’re all talk, no action,” said Anna Marie Perkins, RN, president of the bargaining unit for the 520 RNs. “Inside, our relations are strained. So we have no reason to celebrate Nurses Week at Nyack Hospital this year.”

What do you think? Have the Nyack nurses gone too far, or are they right on track?

Jennifer is a professional freelance writer with over eight years experience as a hospital nurse. She has clinical experience in adult health, including med-surg, geriatrics and transplant; she also has a particular interest in women’s health and cancer care. Jennifer has written a variety of health and parenting articles for national publications. By Jennifer Fink, RN, BSN